Hinckley AFC manager Joe Conneely said he was “really pleased” with his side’s 7-3 derby day win over Nuneaton Griff.
AFC moved up to third in the table with a comprehensive win at Kirkby Road, prevailing despite a second-half hat-trick from Griff player-manager Sam Belcher.
AFC scored three goals in 20 minutes towards the end of the first half, and another three in 15 minutes at the start of the second period to put the game beyond doubt.
And Conneely said the open nature of the game was typical of a festive clash.
“It was a typical match after a Bank Holiday. It’s sometimes hard to get lads to stay in and commit to what you want on Boxing Day but to be fair to our lads, they did it really well.
“We struggled for 15 minutes. We knew they’d come out and press, and rat. That’s what they do. We had to come through that but scored some brilliant goals.
“They got one back at the start of the second half and I think that woke us up, because we were relentless after that.
“Sam scored a brilliant hat-trick for them but otherwise I was really pleased. 7-3 is a big win and something that nobody really does to Griff. They stay in every game but we were relentless and deserved to win.”
Isa Abraham picked up the Steve Hardy Energy Assessor Supporters’ Man of the Match on his return to the starting line-up.
The pacy winger scored two and set two more up and Conneely says it’s good to have him back in the squad.
“When he’s like that he’s unplayable, it’s just getting it out of him on a consistent basis. We’ve got to work to do that.
“He’s one of those – you’ll get frustrated with him at times, of course you will, but when he’s at it like that he’s unplayable.
“I’m delighted for him. He took his goals really well, he was a pain all day and it’s great to have him back around it.”
It means AFC end 2022 third in the table, behind the top two of Dudley Town and Ashby Ivanhoe.
Hinckley start 2023 away to Paget Rangers on Bank Holiday Monday and Conneely says he won’t look too far ahead into the new year.
“We’re in a strong position now so let’s see what we can do going into the New Year.
“We’ve got a tough game on Monday away to Paget, but we’re comfortable on a 3G pitch. We’ll keep taking them one at a time and see where we end up.”
